I would like to start by asking you in this very complex world that we are living with all these different changes in the economy, geopolitical and so on, how do you see the future of the footwear industry? What are your expectations for the next few years?

I am convinced that the Made in Italy, as presented here, will always attract a great deal of global attention. In August, a journalist wrote that we make shoes for the world, meaning that we are everywhere. Italians are present in every country. Some of the exhibitors here have a niche in the market. There are also major and lesser-known brands, but we have a quality standard and connection with this product that represents excellence, which is recognised by all. I’m convinced that, although this is a difficult time, we will come through it very well.

In terms of the European footwear industry, how do you see the upcoming years for the players in Europe?

In Europe, we consider France and also Spain to be our main customers, as responding very well to Italian products. However, we must remain alert to changes on the horizon and shifts in consumer behaviour, because consumers are looking for quality products, not just focusing on price. I don’t think this is true, because if people want their shoes to last longer, as the concept of sustainability suggests, and to use them for longer than they do now, it means they want quality shoes, which is a good thing.

MICAM is often seen as the most important trade show for footwear. What is your perspective on the trends coming out of the trade show? What trends do you identify as being the ones that will impact the industry the most? 

During the pandemic, we saw that people thought cancelling MICAM meant we could continue working online or remotely just fine. That’s not the case. Shoes need to be touched, tried on and seen in person. For this reason, of course, there will be challenging seasons and better ones, because MICAM is a major trade fair twice a year, at which we present two different collections. However, I’m convinced that people simply must attend these trade fairs to maintain relationships with their suppliers. Above all, MICAM isn’t just about sales or business. It’s also about information and training. If you don’t keep yourself informed, you end up out of the loop. So it’s very important to be here.

Many companies are investing a lot in automation and technologies. Digitalisation is playing an important role inside the factories. How important do you think all these new technologies, smart factories, artificial intelligence and so on, will be important in shaping the future of the industry?

We know that a great deal of technology has been developed to help us work more effectively. Take artificial intelligence, for example: it can be useful for creating samples and preparing designs because it streamlines the process and reduces prototyping costs; after all, you can visualise the product, and artificial intelligence can create it for you. However, we have also seen that certain jobs simply cannot be done by machines. This is one of the reasons why so many people work in shoe factories, as manual tasks cannot be replaced. Perhaps in the future, given the existence of computerised machines, these will be used for large-scale production to maximise efficiency. So small businesses like ours, with 10 or 15 employees, certainly need to start using them, and they are doing so, but it will still take some time.

In that scenario, how do you think the companies, the factories, will be able to attract new people to come and work in the footwear industry?

We know we have to engage the families. In the past, families used to ask company owners to bear in mind that they had children at home. Then, there was a time when we wanted doctors, lawyers or managers, so they weren’t allowed in factories. However, we’ve now realised that we need to communicate better and approach young people differently. Working so hard and putting in so many hours isn’t the right way to communicate. They need their own time and space. We need to create an environment that suits them where they can bring their own ideas to the fore because that’s what we’ve done too, isn’t it? We’ve always done things this way, but thanks to young people, we’ll be able to implement technology in companies, change the technology itself and certainly be better equipped to tackle sustainability and the circular economy. After all, it’s in their DNA, unlike us, who are perhaps still tied to certain ways of doing things. Bear in mind that the shoe factory uses leather, which is already part of the circular economy. But we need to do better, and we need them.

A final question. As President of MICAM and Assocalzaturifici, what is your message for all the footwear companies that are trying to be successful and combine these elements of new technologies and having people in the factories motivated and at the same time keeping the heritage and the crafts of these industries? 

We are embarking on an important journey: the process of applying for UNESCO recognition. What will this involve? First, we want to celebrate all these communities of craftspeople. Rather than presenting a shoe to a brand, we want to showcase everything our people have achieved over time. But our aim is not just to dwell on the past; it is to build a different future together with the younger generation. We also want to document all the technology that has been invented and everything that has been achieved. If we think about it, take a woman like myself, for example: if I were to wear a heel, the insole has to support my entire weight. This was achieved by men who weren’t qualified engineers; they were engineers without a degree. This entire journey really needs to be highlighted. We hope that this will lead to a UNESCO nomination, and that we will be able to compile a dossier to leave behind for young people who need to learn and develop a love for this craft. I have faith. I am confident because our footwear is of the highest quality and a product of excellence. We will always have a place in the world and in the hearts of women and men because we make shoes for everyone.